Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, known for her Bollywood debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Raees (2017), has openly discussed the recurring focus on her co-star during interviews. The actress expressed her dissatisfaction with being wrongly accused of using Shah Rukh’s name for promotional purposes, a claim she firmly refutes.
Mahira addressed these concerns during a session at the Aalami Urdu Conference 2024, organized by Waseem Badami and Tabish Hashmi. When asked if the constant inquiries about Shah Rukh bothered her, she responded, “Whenever someone asks me about Shah Rukh, I answer their question. But then people assume that I bring him up intentionally. I never mention him on my own.”
Mahira expressed her annoyance with the perception that she uses Shah Rukh’s name to gain attention. She said, “If that’s what people think, then they shouldn’t ask me about him.” Despite the criticism, Mahira affectionately called Shah Rukh her “bachpan ka pyaar” (childhood love), highlighting her genuine respect for the Bollywood icon.
Mahira’s role in Raees, directed by Rahul Dholakia, marked a major turning point in her career. Starring opposite Shah Rukh Khan, the action-packed film received positive reviews and achieved commercial success. However, the political tensions that led to a ban on Pakistani artists in India affected Mahira’s promotional efforts, preventing her from promoting the film in India. To this day, Raees remains her only Bollywood project.
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